Weigela plant named ‘Kolmas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Weigela  plant named ‘Kolmas’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; dark reddish brown young stem coloration; and large green and pale yellow to white variegated leaves.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Weigela florida cultivar Kolmas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant, botanically known as Weigela florida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kolmas’.

The new Weigela is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Weigela cultivars with variegated leaves.

The new cultivar originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 1998 of two unidentified proprietary seedling selections, not patented. The cultivar Kolmas was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 1999 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Weigela by terminal cuttings at Boskoop, The Netherlands since 1999, has shown that the unique features of this new Weigela are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kolmas’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kolmas’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Dark reddish brown young stem coloration.     -   3. Large green and pale yellow to white variegated leaves.

Plants of the new Weigela differ primarily from plants of the parent selections in leaf variegation coloration.

Plants of the new Weigela can be compared to plants of the Weigela cultivar Nana Variegata, not patented. However, plants of the new Weigela differ from plants of ‘Nana Variegata’ in leaf coloration as leaves of plants of ‘Nana Variegata’ are green and white in color. In addition, plans of the new Weigela have larger leaves than plants of the cultivar Nana Variegata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Weigela, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Weigela.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plants of ‘Kolmas’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers and leaves of ‘Kolmas’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of typical upper surfaces of fully expanded leaves of ‘Kolmas’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Weigela has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Boskoop, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nursery and under commercial production practices. Plants were about two years old and pruned annually. The photographs and description were taken during the summer when day temperatures ranged from 14 to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5 to 11° C.

In the following descriptions, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela florida cultivar Kolmas. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Weigela             florida, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unidentified proprietary selection of Weigela             florida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 30 days at 20° C.             Winter: About 40 days at 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             20° C.         -   Root description.—Moderately branching; medium thickness;             soft brown in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form.—Upright and outwardly spreading perennial shrub;             broad.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous; dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 1.25 meters.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 1.5 meters.         -   Growth rate.—Plants grow about 25 cm per month during the             spring in Boskoop, The Netherlands.         -   Lateral branches.—Quantity per plant: About eight. Length:             About 40 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Internode length: About             7.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, Glabrous. Color:             178A; shaded, 143C to 144B. Lenticels: Density: Sparse.             Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 0.2 mm. Color: Close to             192D.         -   Foliage description.—Leaves opposite, single, and generally             symmetrical. Length: About 12.6 cm. Width: About 6.6 cm.             Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Apex: Aristate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Finely serrulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Slightly rugose; pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Center, Slightly             more yellow than 137A; towards the margins 1D; towards apex,             occasionally tinted with 180A. Developing leaves, lower             surface: Center, 138A to 138B; towards the margins 1D;             towards apex, occasionally tinted with 180A. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Center, more green than 147A; towards             the margins between 155A and 157A; towards apex,             occasionally tinted with 180A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Center, 138B; towards the margins 155A; towards             apex, occasionally tinted with 180A. Venation, upper             surface: 146C. Venation, lower surface: 144C; towards base,             151A. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: 151A. -   Flower description:     -   -   FLower type and habit.—Pink single campanulate flowers             arranged in terminal and axillary pairs or small clusters of             three flowers; about 58 flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch. Flowers not persistent. Flowers face mostly upright             or slightly outward.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower twice a year. First             flowering period is in the spring, typically May in Boskoop,             The Netherlands; the second flowering period is late summer,             typically August to September in Boskoop, The Netherlands;             flowering periods last about one month; flowering continuous             during these periods.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers typically last about five             days on the plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Oblanceolate. Color: 59D to 182A.         -   Flowers.—Diameter: About 2.3 cm. Depth: About 3.4 cm. Throat             diameter: About 5 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Lobe             length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape:             Oblanceolate. Aspect: Apices, slightly reflexed. Apex:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened,             upper surface: 69B to 69C to pure white, close to 155D.             Color becoming closer to 70C with development. When opening             and fully opened, lower surface: 64D; towards the margins             and apex, 69D to close to 155D. Throat and tube: Close to             64D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, fused at base. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Mostly             glabrous; margins, pubescent. Color, upper surface: 143A to             143B. Color, lower surface: 144A to 144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Orientation: About 5 to 25° from vertical. Strength:             Moderately strong. Color: 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower. About             five. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About             2 mm. Anther color: 155A. Filament length: About 2.5 mm.             Filament color: 144A. Pollen amount: None. Pistils: Quantity             per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.1 mm. Stigma shape:             Globular, flattened. Stigma color: 155A. Style length: About             3 mm. Style color: 155A; towards the apex, 69C to 69D;             towards the base, 145C to 145D. Ovary color: 143C.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Weigela have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Weigela. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Weigela have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from −20 to 35° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela plant named ‘Kolmas’, as illustrated and described. 